JHATPHAT SAMBAR

December has crept in and already second week is on. It has been a bit busy month with lots of travelling , loads of dishes to try and taste.

Idli ,usually is served with traditional sambar, one or two chutneys. I like it with Onion chutney.

A quick recipe of sambar which I had heard from a friend long back helped me today as I didn't have coconut to make the usual combo of idlis.

Jhat phat sambar as I call it is quick to make and perfect accompaniment for Idlis, specially when there is a constraint of time and resources.

Jhat pat Sambar :

Ingredients:
1 cup masoor dal

2 spoonful tamarind juice

2 tomatoes finely chopped

1 spoon grated coconut

two onions finely chopped ( one cup full peeled sambar onions (shallots))

sambar powder to taste ( I used MTR)

salt to taste

Oil - 1 tsp

mustard 1/2 tsp

cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp

one or two dry red chillies

curry leaves - a sprig

a pinch of asafoetida

coriander leaves for garnishing.

Method:

Make a coarse powder of the masoor dal in the mixer- grinder. Add grated coconut,tamarind juice or paste, sambar powder and some water to make a fine paste and keep aside .
In a deep pan add the oil, let it heat and then add mustard let it splutter add the cumin seeds ( jeera ) curry leaves , dry red chillies and asafoetida. Then add the cut onions and tomatoes . Add desired vegetables which cook quickly like brinjal and carrot, but they should be sliced thin to cook quickly.When the vegetables are sauteed well add the ground paste and salt and let it boil. Add water for the required consistency . Yummy Sambar is ready in minutes , garnish with the coriander leaves and a dash of ghee.
Enjoy this dish with Hot Idlis and filter coffee.

Enjoy the Christmas season and have a wonderful New year 2010.

Waiting for the New year which I hope will bring prosperity to all of us.

Congress Kadlekai beeja

October passed by without notice. I haven't had much time this month . My big achievement this month was to baptise my girls to the CHAT of Mysore Churmuri. This is something unique of this place and for reasons unknown has not been popular anywhere other than Mysore. It is really strange that I did not found the taste being the same even in Bangalore .The only thing my girls did not like was the masala peanuts in it,which I love. This week I tried making them at home and Lo here it is in my bowl. All set and yes this they did like and eat.

This is a very simple procedure and can be stored for days provided it is done in less oil.

CONGRESS KADLEKAI BEEJA/MASALA PEANUTS.

Roasted Peanuts - 3 cups

Red chilly powder- to taste

Curry leaves - 1 sprig

Turmeric - 1 1/2 tsp

Hing/Asafoetida - 1/4 tsp ( can add more tastes better)

Black pepper powder- 1 tsp ( taste better with more)

Oil- half to one tsp

Salt to taste

METHOD

Roast peanuts till they are blackish on the skin. In a large plate or pan just rub them gently the skin peels off. Clean and spilt them into half. Heat the oil, add curry leaves, hing and turmeric powder. Add the roasted peanuts and turn the heat off. Mix well while adding pepper , chilli powder and salt.

Very simple isn't it.

Ciao. Hoping to update a few more recipes soon.

APPEAL - HELP AS MUCH AS YOU CAN

APPEAL

Dear Friends,

All of you must be aware and must have seen the havoc being created by the floods in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. The temple town of Mantralaya has been totally submerged and vast stretches upto Kurnool has been inundated. Nandyal is on the way too.

As a pay back to the society to which we come from we thought of appealing to all of you to contribute what you can so that we can relieve the misery of our fellow citizens to the extent we can.

We can only assure that the end use of the funds will be 100% for the need and we will see that every penny of your gesture will be used. Once the work is completed you will recieve details of the usage of money.

We urge all of you to contribute your might to this cause.

Remember that it is more blessed to give than to receive.

The bank account to which the remittance can be sent is given below:

Benefeciary: Vishwabharathi Kalaniketan & Education Society

Name of the Bank: Indian Bank

Bank Account No: 509383166

IFSC Code: IDIB000B015

In case you want to send across a cheque please send it to the following address :

K.Pavan Kumar,

VISHWA BHARATHI KALANIKETHAN & EDUCATION SOCIETY

No.123,VEERANNA GOWDA COLONY,

NEAR KUMARASWAMY TEMPLE,CLUB ROAD,

BELLARY - 583104

KARNATAKA
Ph No 09980823248

Looking forward to your valued contribution.Please circulate this among your friends to make it a success.

Shashikanth & Shubha .

P.S. We have used an existing Trust account for this purpose as it was taking too long to get an approval for a new one.